Dear , As Saraswati Puja is approaching fast and we are getting prepared to put together the best performance by all local Bay Area children and youth. We have received applications from many interested children keen on participating that day. Look below for categories and deadlines for submission.

Also, we are screening Bomkesh Bakshi, a film by Anjan Dutta on January 29, at 3:00pm.

Saraswati Puja performance categories and deadline

Art Competition for different age groups (12:00 noon - 1:00 pm)

Ages 4 and under: Pick your own theme

Ages 4-9: Theme is 'Family' - could be you and your family, could be animal families, could be families around the world. (Extra points for a creative title)

Ages 9-15: Theme is 'Friendship' - could be you and your friends, friends around the world, friendship in the animal kingdom. (Extra points for a creative title)

Ages 15-18: Theme is 'Leadership' - Men and women leaders of the past and the present, you and/or your friends in any leadership roles, importance of this quality portrayed through your creative artform. (Extra points for a creative title)

Amra Ranteo Pari (12:00 noon - 1:00 pm)

The children mix, bake and create cuisine of their choice at home and bring it in for the competition

Extra points for creativity

The competition will be held for two age groups: Ages 8-12 and Ages 12-16. Interested participants please send in your names to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Go As You Like - My Fashion Statement (3:00 - 4:00 pm)

Groups A : 6 months to 3 years (Mommy and me/Daddy and me)Groups B: 3 to 8 yearsGroup C: 8 to 12 years

Parade around flaunting your new attire and presenting your new self, meet and greet people on your way! Interested participants please send in your names to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Bay Area Got Talent (4:00 - 5:30 pm)

Session 1: Solo Items

Vocal/ Instrumental/Dance/Recitation

Each presentation not to exceed 3 min

Participants will be assigned to appropriate age groups. Auditions will be held prior to the event.

Interested participants please send in your names to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Session 2: Team Items

Vocal/ Instrumental /Dance/Recitations

Each presentation not to exceed 5 min

Auditions will be held prior to the event

Interested participants please send in your names to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Snack Break (5:30 - 6:30 pm)

Local Cultural Presentation (6:30 - 8:00 pm)

Format to be decided

Interested participants please send in your names to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dinner Break (8:00 - 9:00 pm)

Antakshari (9:00 - 10:00 pm)

Teams can have a min of 2 and a max of 6 participants.

Teams can add participants till the final day

Teams can sing in only two languages: Bengali and Hindi.

Team leads: Please send in the name of your team and list of proposed participants to cultural@prabasi.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

There will be exciting prizes for the winners of each of these events. All participants receive a Certificate of Participation.

To ensure participation, it is mandatory to register, so please email the title of the event you are interested in participating (specify on the Subject header). In the body of the email, please post your name, age, and any other information pertinent to your program.

Note: The deadline for submission of all applications is Jan 31, 2011.

Screening of Bomkesh Bakshi

Prabasi will be screening Anjan Dutt's film "Bomkesh Bakshi" at Big Cinemas, Fremont on Jan 29 at 3:00pm.

Rabindra Jayanti in summer

As a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore, Prabasi, in close collaboration with other organizations, will celebrate Tagore's 150th Birth Anniversary.Prabasi invites all Bay area talents to join hands and create a gala production to celebrate this momentous occasion.